Merkel Is Concerned Over EU’s Polish Tussle

Welcome to the Brussels Edition, Bloomberg’s daily briefing on what matters most in the heart of the European Union.

As she prepares to leave the stage, Angela Merkel is worried about what some EU leaders and lawmakers are up to. She’s concerned their push against Poland leaves no room for compromise and could end in disaster. She sees a possible worst-case scenario with Poland exiting the EU, as well as authoritarianism bolstered in a country that would become more subject to outside influences, according to a person familiar with her thinking. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte wants a harder stance, insisting the EU should be focused on democracy and the rule of law. Speaking on behalf of the Benelux countries, Belgian Foreign Minister Sophie Wilmes says “opening an infringement case is a given, but it’s not enough.” We’re told that European Council President Charles Michel held calls with several leaders in recent days, including Poland’s Mateusz Morawiecki, in which he said he wants to avoid talking about Poland at this week’s summit — though he expects it will be brought up anyway. The gathering in Brussels will come only days after Morawiecki used an appearance before the European Parliament to accuse the EU of overstepping its authority and indulging in “financial blackmail.”